Evolution Exam 1 Prep 2026 – FSU
1. Which of the following is one of Darwin’s four postulates regarding natural
selection?
A. Mutation rates are constant across generations.
B. Individuals within populations are variable.
C. Acquired traits are passed to offspring.
D. Evolution occurs for the good of the species.
Answer: B
Rationale: Darwin’s first postulate states that individuals within a population differ from
one another.
2. In phylogenetics, a shared derived character state is known as a:
A. Symplesiomorphy
B. Synapomorphy
C. Autapomorphy
D. Homoplasy
Answer: B
Rationale: A synapomorphy is a trait that is shared by two or more taxa and their most
recent common ancestor.
,3. The similarity of the bone structure in the forelimbs of humans and whales is
an example of:
A. Convergent evolution
B. Vestigial structures
C. Analogy
D. Homology
Answer: D
Rationale: Homology refers to traits inherited from a common ancestor, regardless of
current function.
4. Which process is most likely to reduce genetic differences between two
populations?
A. Genetic drift
B. Gene flow
C. Mutation
D. Non-random mating
Answer: B
Rationale: Gene flow (migration) tends to homogenize allele frequencies between
populations.
5. According to the Biological Species Concept, species are defined by:
A. Morphological similarity
B. Ecological niche
C. Reproductive isolation
D. Phylogenetic history
Answer: C
Rationale: The Biological Species Concept defines species as groups of interbreeding
natural populations that are reproductively isolated from other such groups.
, 6. What is the primary source of all new genetic variation?
A. Natural Selection
B. Genetic Drift
C. Mutation
D. Recombination
Answer: C
Rationale: Mutation is the ultimate source of all genetic variation upon which other
evolutionary forces act.
7. In a population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, if the frequency of the
recessive allele (q) is 0.3, what is the frequency of the heterozygotes?
A. 0.09
B. 0.49
C. 0.42
D. 0.21
Answer: C
Rationale: If q=0.3, then p=0.7. The heterozygote frequency is 2pq = 2(0.7)(0.3) = 0.42.
8. Which of the following describes the ‘Founder Effect’?
A. A small group of individuals establishes a new population.
B. A large population experiences a sudden drop in size.
C. Allele frequencies change due to environmental selection.
D. High levels of gene flow between islands.
Answer: A
Rationale: The Founder Effect occurs when a small subset of a population starts a new
colony, often leading to reduced genetic diversity.
1. Which of the following is one of Darwin’s four postulates regarding natural
selection?
A. Mutation rates are constant across generations.
B. Individuals within populations are variable.
C. Acquired traits are passed to offspring.
D. Evolution occurs for the good of the species.
Answer: B
Rationale: Darwin’s first postulate states that individuals within a population differ from
one another.
2. In phylogenetics, a shared derived character state is known as a:
A. Symplesiomorphy
B. Synapomorphy
C. Autapomorphy
D. Homoplasy
Answer: B
Rationale: A synapomorphy is a trait that is shared by two or more taxa and their most
recent common ancestor.
,3. The similarity of the bone structure in the forelimbs of humans and whales is
an example of:
A. Convergent evolution
B. Vestigial structures
C. Analogy
D. Homology
Answer: D
Rationale: Homology refers to traits inherited from a common ancestor, regardless of
current function.
4. Which process is most likely to reduce genetic differences between two
populations?
A. Genetic drift
B. Gene flow
C. Mutation
D. Non-random mating
Answer: B
Rationale: Gene flow (migration) tends to homogenize allele frequencies between
populations.
5. According to the Biological Species Concept, species are defined by:
A. Morphological similarity
B. Ecological niche
C. Reproductive isolation
D. Phylogenetic history
Answer: C
Rationale: The Biological Species Concept defines species as groups of interbreeding
natural populations that are reproductively isolated from other such groups.
, 6. What is the primary source of all new genetic variation?
A. Natural Selection
B. Genetic Drift
C. Mutation
D. Recombination
Answer: C
Rationale: Mutation is the ultimate source of all genetic variation upon which other
evolutionary forces act.
7. In a population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, if the frequency of the
recessive allele (q) is 0.3, what is the frequency of the heterozygotes?
A. 0.09
B. 0.49
C. 0.42
D. 0.21
Answer: C
Rationale: If q=0.3, then p=0.7. The heterozygote frequency is 2pq = 2(0.7)(0.3) = 0.42.
8. Which of the following describes the ‘Founder Effect’?
A. A small group of individuals establishes a new population.
B. A large population experiences a sudden drop in size.
C. Allele frequencies change due to environmental selection.
D. High levels of gene flow between islands.
Answer: A
Rationale: The Founder Effect occurs when a small subset of a population starts a new
colony, often leading to reduced genetic diversity.
